Abstract: This article presents the results of personification of the evolution of photography in Tobolsk during the late XIX – min XX century, demonstrated on the example of biographies of I. K. Ussakovsky and his spouse M. M. Ussakovskaya – owner of one of the most popular photographic studio in the city. The research methodology leans on the historical-genetic, descriptive-narrative, retrospective and historiographical methods; historical-anthropological and micro-historical approaches, with application of the biographical tools and method of historical reconstruction. On the basis of the newly revealed archival documents and published data alongside the analysis of products and teaser advertising of the studio of M. Ussakovskaya, the author comprehensively reconstructs the family history and professional activity of the spouses Ussakovsky in accordance with the political situation in the country. For 37 years, the studio of M. Ussakovskaya has been one of the leading public-cultural establishments of Tobols in the area of photography services. It was attended mostly by the privileged part of the population. After the change of political regime, the studio quickly enough readjusted to the transformed structure of everyday life of the city. The lead in the mastery of photography in the marital tandem belonged to I. K. Ussakovsky. He was responsible for execution of practical and organizational tasks in the studio, while M. M. Ussakovskaya acted as a competent representative of family business, handled the administrative work and made deals with the authorities.

Abstract: Through the analysis of epistolary documents, the author determines the information component of letters and perception of war by the Siberian combatants: weekdays and holidays in the field, adaptation behavioral strategies, emotional state, and transformation of mindset. The work is based on application of the techniques of military psychology, history of everyday life, historical-anthropological approach and text analysis. The sphere of personal human experiences are analyzed in the context of extreme conditions for the first time. The novelty of this work is defined by introducing into the scientific discourse of a complex of epistolary documents from the family archives of Tobolsk residents, which have not been previously subjected to scientific analysis. The specificity of communicative process, generation of information, emotional coloring of epistles directly depended on situational factors and addressing of correspondence; receiving a letter became the key event within the realm of daily life in the front. The attributes of soldierly letters contained consolation of relatives, recommendations on maintaining the household in case of death of the combatants, description of life in the field, recreation culture. In the atmosphere of potential danger to life, took place the process of reassessment of the fundamental human values, formation of views on the nature of war, personal aspects of its perception. These problems were solved based on the level of education, professional and social affiliation, intellectual capabilities of the addressers. The adjustment to military reality was accompanied by the negative form of stress, development of the habit to extreme existence. The form of written communication allowed realizing intra-familial socio-demographic role common to the traditional binary gender system. The distinct peculiarity of Tobolsk soldier consisted in understanding of spiritual connection with birthplace; the sense of compatriotism became much stronger.